Israel agrees with Hamas to release 50 hostages in exchange for a ceasefire

The IsraeliCabinet of Ministers has approved an agreement with Hamas that provides for therelease of 50 hostages and a temporary ceasefire.

Theoverwhelming majority of 38 ministers supported the truce, but representativesof the far-right parties Otsma Yehudit and Religious Zionism opposed it evenbefore the meeting, The Times of Israel reports.

An Israeligovernment spokesman said that the deal would see the release of 50 livingIsraeli citizens, mostly women and children. They will be released in groups of12-13 people a day.

In return,Israel will cease fire for at least four days, release Palestinian women andminors from prisons and allow them to return to their homes, mostly in the WestBank and East Jerusalem.

Accordingto media reports, 150 people may be released. At the same time, the PalestinianAuthority's minister told Al Arabiya that 350 minors and 82 women want to bereturned.

Inaddition, Israel has agreed to allow additional fuel and significant amounts ofhumanitarian aid into Gaza.

A difficult decision

PrimeMinister Benjamin Netanyahu called the government's decision a difficult one.

"Todaywe are facing a difficult decision, but it is the right decision. I want tomake it clear. We are fighting and will continue to fight until we achieve allour goals, until we destroy Hamas and return all our prisoners and missingpersons. We will also guarantee that there will be no entity left in Gaza thatthreatens Israel," he said, according to TheJerusalem Post.

Accordingto the prime minister, the agreement received support from the entire securitysystem of the country. In addition, it will allow the IDF to better prepare forfurther actions.

Netanyahualso said that he had spoken with US President Joe Biden, who "intervenedand got better terms for the deal".

Welcomed by the US and EU

The UnitedStates has welcomed the agreement to secure the release of hostages taken bythe Hamas terrorist group during its brutal attack on Israel on 7 October.

"I amvery pleased that some of these brave individuals who have endured weeks ofcaptivity and unspeakable hardship will be reunited with their families oncethe agreement is fully implemented.... And I appreciate the commitment thatPrime Minister Netanyahu and his government have made by supporting an extendedpause to ensure the full implementation of this agreement and to ensure thatadditional humanitarian assistance is provided to alleviate the suffering ofinnocent Palestinian families in Gaza," saidUS President Joe Biden.

EuropeanUnion High Representative Josep Borrell said the EU welcomed the agreement torelease 50 hostages from Gaza in exchange for a long pause in the conflict.

"After7 weeks of suffering, they will finally be reunited with their families. Wecall for the immediate release of all hostages. The humanitarian pause must beused to provide as much urgently needed assistance as possible to civiliansliving through the devastating war in Gaza," Borrellwrote on Twitter.

The war between Israel and Hamas in the GazaStrip

On themorning of 7 October, Hamas militants invaded Israel from the Gaza Strip,taking control of several settlements in the border area and taking dozens ofhostages. In response, Israel launched a counter-terrorist operation againstthe militants.

Worldleaders condemned the attack by radical Islamists on Israel. Leaders of EUmember states and Ukraine expressed solidarity with the people of Israel.

On 1November, Israeli ground forces broke through the front line of the PalestinianHamas movement in the northern part of the Gaza Strip. On 2 November, theIsraeli army completely surrounded the city of Gaza.

There are239 hostages in the Gaza Strip who were taken by militants during the attack on7 October.

On 17November, Hamas and Israel suspendednegotiations on the release of the hostages.

Palestinianradicals denied reports that anagreement on a prisoner exchange with Israel had been reached, which was tocome into force on 20 November.

USPresident Joe Biden believes that the only way to ensure the long-term securityof the Israeli and Palestinian peoples is tocreate two states.